"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete"
- Buckminster Fuller
Who's Already Part of The Trusted Circle?
The Ikigai Partnership
The Trusted Circle: A progression of trust and contribution
How it works
Each stage builds on the one before it.
Participation deepens through demonstrated trust and contribution.
The path in
The Trusted Circle Invitation
Bring your experience. Bring your curiosity. Be yourself.
Professional accomplishment matters. Character matters more.
HOW IT WORKS:
Contribute in a way that fits your life.
There are no minimum attendance requirements, fundraising expectations, or mandatory committees. You are free to say when something is beyond your capacity.
You might mentor someone, review an idea, make an introduction, join a project, or offer encouragement during a difficult stretch. The invitation is to remain connected and contribute with care, in ways that reflect your gifts, your availability, and your season of life and career.
CHARACTER TRAITS WE SEEK:
Curious enough to keep learning.
Humble enough to change their minds.
Generous enough to help without expecting an immediate return.
Courageous enough to offer an honest perspective.
Kind enough to celebrate someone else’s success.
A Yaya is defined by alignment not perfection that same spirit guides the trusted circle.
A Shared Self-Awareness Approach
Being part of the Ikigai Trusted Circle begins with a willingness to understand yourself and be understood by others.
These three exercises create a foundation for the relationships we hope to build together. They reflect a principle that runs through our advisory work: useful guidance begins with understanding the person, their values, experiences, motivations, and assumptions.
The three exercises
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01
Core Values
Asks you to identify the two core values that truly guide your decisions, especially when priorities compete or choices become difficult.
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02
The I AM Project
Invites you to reflect on the experiences that shaped you, what gives your life meaning, and who you were, and who you are becoming.
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03
Reflective Appraisal — Five Words
Brings another perspective: how the people who know you best actually experience you.
Looking inward and listening outward can reveal strengths you overlook and differences between your intentions and your impact. Together, these exercises give us a more thoughtful starting point for knowing one another beyond titles and accomplishments. They help us ask better questions, challenge assumptions with care, and recognize where our experiences and strengths might help someone else.
There are no perfect answers; the value comes from honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning. When we understand what matters to one another, we are better equipped to offer relevant support, make purposeful introductions, and follow through in ways that earn trust. That is how we begin becoming better human guides for one another.
Learn More
If you’d like to learn more about The Trusted Circle or need support onboarding, please complete this form and someone from our team will be in touch.